Tuesday, November 3, 2015

NEW ORLEANS—As expected, the results of the past weekend’s conference championship meets proved to be the catalyst for the shakeup in the USTFCCCA Division I coaches’ poll that was released Tuesday.

While the University of Washington women’s team maintained its #12 ranking after a solid fourth place performance in last Friday’s Pac-12 championship race in Colfax, the national voters took notice of West Coast Conference champion Gonzaga (above/photo by Paul Merca) and gave coach Patty Ley’s squad their first ever national ranking, voting the Zags #30.

The national top five women’s teams are New Mexico, Colorado, Arkansas, with Oregon and Providence tied at #4.

We are honored to receive this award, as it comes from our peers who passionately cover the sport, and strive to continue the legacy of excellence that the late Adam Jacobs sought before his untimely passing.

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About Me

Internationally respected track and field writer Paul Merca brings his take on the sport to paulmerca.blogspot.com.
Paul was the assistant director of communications for the 1984 USA Women's Olympic Marathon Trials in Olympia, WA., and public relations director for the 1999 USA Cross Country Championships in Tacoma, WA.
The current public address announcer for the University of Washington's home track and field meets, Merca's been a media assistant to the USA national team (2001-11, 13, 15, 17) at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
His vast knowledge of the sport has been utilized by many of the country's sports television networks, and is a senior writer to Northwest Runner magazine. He's covered 13 IAAF World Track & Field Championships, and two Olympics.
Merca graduated from Seattle's Franklin High School in 1977, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington in 1981 in Communications.
He competed in track and cross country at Franklin, and ran cross country at the University of Washington.